For fans of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

Every accusation is a confession with them.

Currently reading this. It was rushed into print because Giuffre's book was coming out, so there are lots of formatting errors, like footnotes in the middle of a page, and what should be block quotes set as ordinary text. But the content is interesting. 1/

“A coup is happening in the United States.” Jason Stanley, author of How Fascism Works, argues that President Donald Trump is leading an unlawful takeover of the US government.

There are caves, and then there are caves that go darker

What's one difference between the US and China? You can teach Plato in China.

I applied for a position in the Trump administration. This is my headshot.

People were sucking up to Trump so much, he had to take 4 naps during his cabinet meeting

It feels so on the nose that Stephen Miller is such an obviously creepy loser and he also has this politics. The least subtle morality play about racists basically entirely accurately characterises the sorta people they are.

The bilingual version of the documentary I hosted, "Wisdom of China: Laozi," is now available. Feel free to use it in your classes, and please like and comment on the video to help promote it. youtu.be/lvglQJDrgJI?...

Here’s a good introduction to Daoism with some fun contemporary applications. Great work from @bryanvannorden.bsky.social youtu.be/lvglQJDrgJI

I really enjoyed this video about Laozi youtu.be/lvglQJDrgJI?... made by @bryanvannorden.bsky.social Looking forward to the rest of the series

The bilingual version of the documentary I hosted, "Wisdom of China: Laozi," is now available. Feel free to use it in your classes, and please like and comment on the video to help promote it. youtu.be/lvglQJDrgJI?...

Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

Q: My condolences on the loss of your friend Charlie Kirk. How are you holding up? TRUMP: I think very good. And by the way, right there you see all the trucks. They just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House, which is something they've been trying to get for about 150 years.

Donald Trump: “smart people don’t like me”

Bryan, I enjoyed today’s substack video post “The Rest Understand the West Better... ...than the West Understands the Rest.” I wish I had taken more Philosophy at Vassar than the one class I had with Jesse Kalin.

Bryan Van Norden, "The Rest Understands the West Better than the West Understands the Rest," United Nations Pre Summit of the Future, 22 September 2024 vassar.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Page...

Trump is attacking the Smithsonian museum, saying there’s too much focus on "how bad slavery was." Authoritarians know that if they can convince us our country has never been wrong, they can make us believe our ruler is always right. This is part of a larger plan. Watch: youtu.be/rEH7sF6pA4s?...

Crow: "Look at what happened. US military personnel in uniform literally were on hands & knees rolling out a red carpet for the most murderous dictator of the 21st century...we keep on acting like Putin deserves to be brought out in open like any of head of state. This is a historic embarrassment."

In for $327, out for $557 AND won $250 high hand jackpot for a nine-high straight flush. 😎

Is it a bad thing that students read more contemporary authors who directly address issues like race, gender, and ideology that are particularly relevant to them? (BTW just found out I am blocked by Pinker, despite never having interacted with him.)

The first time Charlie Chaplin used his voice in a film, he wielded it to forcefully condemn the rising forces of fascism around the globe. Will we listen to his words today?

Just in: the final publication of the late (and legendary) Michael Loewe! This short book is notable as a single-authored comparative synthesis written by a specialist in early China—a useful complement to current work (mostly multi-authored or written from a Mediterranean perspective). Exciting!

One of the best experiences I had in graduate school was joining a reading group on @bryanvannorden.bsky.social's Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy (and the accompanying books of readings). There is still so much missing from mainstream philosophy.

Having just spent a few months reading accounts of CBS’ grotesque cowardice during the 1950s McCarthy-era blacklist, it’s nice to see that The Tiffany Network respects its traditions

At the poker room at Resorts World Catskills tonight. Was down $300 when the board blanked out after calling all-in with the hand shown for Player 2 below. (But I'll take 65% equity every day and twice on Sundays!) 1/2

Some things I learned from The Murder of Professor Schlick by @davidedmonds100.bsky.social Lenin wrote a critique of Mach's positivism, which he considered reactionary. Otto Neurath signed his letters with elephant cartoons reflecting his mood.

As @bryanvannorden.bsky.social reminded me a few hours ago while I was attending to light carpentry, logical positivists saw themselves as fighting fascist rhetoric. He also recalled tidbits about Moritz Schlick's assassination, but no spoilers. www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025...

Another great philosophical reflection from @helendecruz.net open.substack.com/pub/helendec...

Mindscape 319 | Bryan Van Norden @bryanvannorden.bsky.social on Philosophy From the Rest of the World. There are many interesting footnotes, not all of them to Plato! www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025...

Had to take a look at this again - what a great book! Interesting to read about the interactions between contemporary Aristotelians and Confucians. @bryanvannorden.bsky.social

Me at the bar before dinner in The Living Room on my cruise. #MyVikingStory

Me in front of the Colosseum in Rome. #MyVikingStory

whenever i encounter people who say they can't understand shakespeare verses I always send them this clip from the 2019 Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing

In the Torshavn Lounge. #MyVikingStory

My Italian waiter when I asked for a cappuccino after 11 AM.

God bless the, often mostly middle-aged and elderly, women confronting and shaming and sometimes even stopping ICE atrocities, be it in San Diego or Worcester www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjX7qsNb/

Me relaxing in the Explorers' Lounge on the Viking Mediterranean Odyssey in May 2025. #myvikingstory

“Can you believe all this waste?! There’s a scientist studying *mold* and whether eating it can stop infections! We need DOGE to put an end to this!” — dumdums in 1928 hearing about Alexander Fleming

As a Chinese philosophy major, I freaked out a lot when I was at an academic conference that @bryanvannorden.bsky.social was also at. He turned out to be SUPER amazing and I am so glad I met him. Will forever regret not being able to go to karaoke that night!

Thanks to Justin Tiwald for including my chapter on 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 and 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛 in 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑂𝑥𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐻𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑦. www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/67tmg...

ICE agents are lawless, sociopathic shitbirds. Treat every one you encounter accordingly.

Please highlight this story. ICE stormed into the wrong house, trashed the place, and made women/girls stand outside in the rain in their underwear. ICE also stole phones, laptops, and cash savings from the family, who moved to OKC two weeks ago. kfor.com/news/local/w...

It's a Friday night, and the casino is really quiet. The economy is going to tank HARD. 😬

OK, so, this was a *while* ago, but when I was teaching the "free speech debate" in an intro course, I would often assigned @bryanvannorden.bsky.social's NYT/Stone piece for this. www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/o... Once, I guess?

Just flopped a set of Kings over a set of Jacks on a board of AKJ. All in. Board ran out QT for a split pot. 😅